'Ghost In The Shell': Get Tickets To Watch Anime Classic In Theatres Feb. 7 And 8

Scarlett Johansson as The Major, a conveniently non-Japanese name for the protagonist of The Ghost In The Shell, an iconic anime movie. (c) Paramount Pictures

Before the Hollywood remake of Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson hits theatres, fans can enjoy the original anime classic in movie theatres on Feb. 7 and 8.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Lionsgate to bring the original ‘Ghost in the Shell’ movie back to U.S. theaters,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation, in a press release. “’Ghost in the Shell’ is truly a seminal work in anime cinema and it helped firmly establish a market for the genre with U.S. movie audiences.”

The original Ghost in the Shell movie from director Mamoru Oshii will be screened in 110 theatres across the United States. Both the original Japanese version with subtitles as well as the English dub will be available on separate days, with the subtitled version available first.

“ Ghost in the Shell is an iconic property and it is great that fans will be able to watch it on the big screen for the first time in 20 years,’ said Kevin Carney, VP of Marketing Lionsgate, via press release. “Many fans will be seeing the movie in a theater for the first time and Funimation has been a terrific partner to help make this possible.”

In addition to the film’s limited theatrical engagement, Lionsgate will be releasing a deluxe collector’s edition of the remastered original Ghost in the Shell on Blu-Ray with digital HD. The new edition, featuring steelbook packaging and Mondo artwork, will be available starting March 7.

The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series will also be returning to Toonami on Cartoon Network beginning Saturday, Feb. 4 at 3 a.m. EST. And if you just can’t wait for that Hollywood remake, since those always go so well, the Ghost in the Shell remake releases March 31.

Tickets for the original anime classic are already available and you can pre-purchase them via the official movie website here.